LARGE VESSEL PULMONARY ARTERITIS MIMICKING CHRONIC THROMBOEMBOLIC DISEASE

Chronic obstruction of pulmonary arteries can be due to a variety of d isease processes, including chronic thromboembolic disease, fibrosing mediastinitis, or neoplasia. Large vessel arteritis is another unusual cause of pulmonary artery obstruction and can be difficult to disting uish from the above-listed etiologies. We present four patients referr ed to our institution with the provisional diagnosis of chronic thromb oembolic pulmonary hypertension who were subsequently diagnosed with T akayasu's arteritis involving the pulmonary arteries. We review the hi storical, physical examination, and radiologic characteristics that he lp distinguish Takayasu's arteritis from chronic thromboembolic diseas e.